Sir Ray Lanhester's weekly articles in the Daily Telegraph are
read with delight by many, and it is satisfactory that a third collection of them has now been issued in book form with the title of Diversions of a Naturalist (Methuen and Co., 68.). A great variety of subjects are dealt with, but, though each of the essays is an independent entity, there are two or three large groups of chapters dealing with similar subjects. Thus almost a third of the book is concerned with various
aspects of the natural history of the seashore, while other subjects discussed at some length are the relations between man and the apes, and courtship in animals and men. Sir Ray Lankester takes, however, a wide view of the province of science, and others of his essays treat of such unexpected topics as dowsing and the Russian Ballet. But whatever he discusses seems equally fresh and interesting, and though his dogmatism may occasionally ruffle our prejudices, it adds individuality and liveliness to his writing.
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